Fun and cheap eats around Stony Brook

Ever wonder what was in the backyard of Stony Brook University?

The Stony Brook and East Setauket area have a variety of eateries that are close to campus and affordable for students. If you feel like you are getting sick of campus food, or the usual Panera Bread and McDonald’s, then here are a couple of places to try.

Curry Club:

Photo Credit: Nicole Falletta

10 Woods Corner Rd, East Setauket, NY 11733

For those who have an intense Indian food craving, Curry Club offers traditional Indian dishes. Menu items that include a range of samosas to the popular chicken masala.

Vegetable Samosas, crisp patties filled with potatoes, peas and Indian spices, for $3.99. Photo Credit: Nicole Falletta

Mango lassi is a traditional Indian yogurt drink. The Curry Club offers different flavors of lassi for under $3.
Photo Credit: Nicole Falletta

Appetizers are quite largely portioned and prices range from $4-$12. The restaurant offers traditional Indian drinks, like Indian beer, wine and lassi. Dessert is also all under $4.99, with items including gajar halva and kheer, to name a few.

The restaurant is student friendly and offers a 10% discount to anyone with a Stony Brook University ID.

Chef Jimmy, above, said that the best time to come to The Curry Club is during the buffet hours, 12-3 p.m. The buffet is $11 on the weekdays and $14 on the weekends for all you can eat. Photo Credit: Krysten Massa

Crazy Beans:

Photo Credit: Krysten Massa

97 Main St Ste A, Stony Brook, NY 11790

Known for having over 30 flavors of coffee, Crazy Beans is a great place to go for those early breakfast cravings or just to catch up over brunch.

Crazy Beans chicken salad of the day. Offered for $7.95, with the option of in a wrap or on bread. Photo Credit: Krysten Massa

The menu offers breakfast and lunch all day long. Popular items includes Crazy Beans chicken and waffles, breakfast quesadillas, ranch pesto wrap and their chicken salad wraps, which change weekly. The kitchen only uses organic cage-free items and are will make any adjustments to meals in order to accommodate customers.

Katherine Jaeger (above) frequently eats at Crazy Beans. She likes the corny atmosphere and supports the cafe as a local business in the area.
Photo Credit: Krysten Massa

The cafe draws in a lot of students who come in during their breaks from class, according the staff.

Any latte can be made hot or iced and are about $5. The coffee comes from Barrie House and the espresso comes from Stone Street.
Photo Credit: Krysten Massa

The restaurant is also ideal for those who are focusing on having a healthy and balanced diet. Offering egg white omelettes, fruit and yogurt, salads, and gluten free platters, such as pancakes and waffles.

“Crazy Sauce” is featured on some of the dishes at Crazy Beans. It is a secret sauce, with a little kick, that only one cook knows the recipe for.
Photo Credit: Krysten Massa

As of now there are no student discounts, but the idea is currently in the works. The menu will also soon be changing to add new items and eliminate some, however the student-friendly prices will remain about the same.

Robinson’s Tea Room:

Photo Credit: Krysten Massa

97 Main St, Stony Brook, NY 11790

The 16-year-old family owned tea house has a list of over 40 different tea options. A full British afternoon tea service is offered with reservations, for those who enjoy high British tea. With this customers can enjoy as much tea and coffee, iced or hot, along with a three-tier of scones, finger sandwiches and desserts.

Homemade scones available to stay or for the student on the go. Photo Credit: Nicole Falletta

All menu items are family recipes, from the chili to the scones, which ingredients are kept secret.

Students are not an unlikely face, Stony Brook medical students are some of their usual customers.

Singer, and wife to the late John Lennon, Yoko Ono. Photo Credit: Nicole Falletta

A wall of tea cups and plates are held in honor of those celebrities that have once visited the tea room.

A small teapot, 6 cups worth, of Apricot Strawberry Kiwi tea. Photo Credit: Nicole Falletta

Friends Salime Vasquez, Sofia Torres and Jessica Garden come to Robinson’s Tea Room because they love tea parties. Torres said that she started coming to Robinson’s because she heard on a news show that it is the best place for tea on Long Island.
Photo Credit: Krysten Massa

Though there are no student discounts, menu items are fairly affordable, with tea pots starting at $3.95 and sweet breakfast treats starting at $2.50.

Latitude 121:

Photo Credit: Krysten Massa

121 Main St, Stony Brook, NY 11790

This restaurant offers breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert. Latitude 121 has two different sections, the parlor side and dining section. The bistro menu, offered in the parlor, is affordable for college students and also displays Gifford’s world-famous ice cream.

Aidan Swift, 16-year-old employee, said that his favorite flavors of Gifford’s ice cream are the campfire s’mores and muddy boots.
Photo Credit: Krysten Massa

New to the menu is their alcoholic dessert drinks, which also can be made virgin for those who are not of legal drinking age.

Marshmallow Fondue Martini and a Night owl Milkshake. Photo Credit: Nicole Falletta

On Fridays and Saturdays there is live music, and Monday through Friday happy hour runs from 3-7, offering half-priced appetizers and drinks.

Popular menu items range from their Montauk grilled cheese, to their chocolate chip bread pudding, that was once only offered as a special. The dessert was in such high demand that the restaurant added it to their everyday menu.

Bistro Burger, made with U.S.D.A ground beef for $12. Photo Credit: Krysten Massa

As of now there are no student discounts, but it is currently under high consideration.

There are many more unique and college-friendly eateries in the area. Use this list to help get you started broadening your everyday dining choices.